The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-13

obviously Their object to defeat the law and
foster outrages and intimidation Regard
ing the Mitchellstown affair, Mr. Bal
four said it had been clearly
ascertained that the action of the police
was in the face of extreme provocation,
[Cries of ''Oh! Ohr1 The police were as
saulted with stones and blackthorn sticks
before they drew their batons. [Cries of
NO! Mop and Hear Hearw Ii was not
till they We're thrown into disorder by the
charge of horsemen, which knocked down
ana wounded number and forced
the rest to fly for their lives, that
the police fired. 1t was absolutely
necessary for them to fire to protect
the barracks and unfortunate police strag-
glerS outside. Cries of "Ohl Ohln and
cheers.) The firing was not the random
flrlng of men in panic, but deliberate
act under the order of their commanding
officer. He maintained that the conduct of
the police was amply justified, and that they
were In no way to blame, the sole response
blllty resting upon those who convoked the
meeting. (Cheers.l
WEAPONS OF THE OPPOSITION.
Sir William had on his lips the words
liberty, justice and free speech, but the
actual weapons he and his friends nsed in
the Irish contest were obstruction in Parlia-
ment and resistance to the law outside
violence and intimidation, worse than vio-
lence. [Cheers.] Did the opposition mean
to further infiame the passions of the Irish,
driving them into resistance of the law of
liberty founded upon order that was once
dear to both parties in the State2 He
appealed to them to have regard
for the community whose lives and
properties were counters with which Sir
William was playing political game.
Cheers. The government did not waver
in their policy. They believed that firm
administration of the law and determina-
ton to do their utmost to remove the evils
fomenting discomfort would bring tQ, Ireland
q united people. They knew that they
must expect little assistance from the op-
position, but undismayed by criticism, and
with courage mistaken, they would perse-
we're in the course that must end in the con-
ciliation CT Ireland. Loud cheers.l
LABoUCHERE's ACCOUNT.
Mr. Labouchere said that he had been in
position to see all that occurred at Mitchells-
town. Stringent orders were given to the
people by their leaders to avoid disturb
ance. When they assembled in the market
place Mr.. Dillon advised that the proceed
ings be as short as possible, with a view of
avoiding disorder. There was no objection
to the presence of the government reporter,
but the police could not force
him through the densely packed crowd, and
they were driven back upon the reserve.
Theythen advanced to assault the crowd
the affray being begun by a constable draw
ing hissword and wounding horses. There
were not at any moment more than fifty,
people fighting the police. There were
women and children in the crowd,
and the men had a perfect right to
resist the attacks. When the police fired
there was no danger of any of them being
attacked, either inside or outside the bar
racks. The police behaved like wild beasts
ibattering the people about without mercy
The chief constable showed deliberate in
tention to break up the meeting. He held
the chief constable and resident magistrate
responsible for what had occurred, and he
accused them of deliberate murder. [Cheers1
GLADSTONE IN THEsFRAY.
Mr.. Gladstone, on rising, was loudly
cheered. He said it was natural that the
debate should be mainly directed to the
Mitchellstown outrage, but Sir William
Vernon Harcourt had performed a public
service in drawing attention to the Ennis
meeting. Mr.. Balfour declared that the
government would perseyere in their en-
deavor to traneuilize Ireland, and by firm
administration of the law, and by removal,
not of grievances-there were none Qaugh-
ter.l
Mr.. Balfour here interposed: injustice
was my word"
Mr.. Gladstone said hewas much obliged
He saw no difference, but it was best to be
verbally correct. Resuning Mr.
Gladstone protested against Mr. Bal
four's statement, that he expected
only hostility from the opposition
Whenever anything beneficial to Ireland
was proposed, the opposition hailed it with
pleasure and did everything possible to
further it despite the unwise policy of coer-
cion, which was calculated to destroy social
order The opposition had enjoined upon
the Irish people strict obedience to the law,
and their advice was more effective in pro-
curing obedience than all the governments
coercion and constabuiary, managed as it
was at Mitchellstown.
BALFoUR's WEAK POSITION.
Mr.. Balfour had met Sir William Vernon
Harcomt's speech with simple tU Quoque
which was usually the resort of persons in a
| difficult position, but which legally meant
nothing. What.signified it for the purpose
in view if the late government did the same
thing? He was not prepared to admit
that, but if they did it was with
no excuse. The government, on being
charged with infringing the law, say that
| those who make the charges are also culpa-
| BILE under the law. Mr.. Balfour had
enunciated that all Liberal meetings might
be suppressed on the ground that they were
called for improper purposes. The govern
menu Utll llOU even dbLCiLlpbSi w oiipN btIAb
they had acted in conformity with the highest
legal authority with regard to the Mitchells-
town affair which at once moved and har-
rowed the feelings of the country. Mr.
Balfour's conduct seemed marked by singu-
lar rashness and impudence 1t was com
petent for him under such grave circum-
stances to decline TO enter into any discus
sion till an equally grave inquiry had
been held. But instead of that
he rushed headong TO the conclusion
that all the police had done was right and
that if they had acted otherwise they would
have been guilty of great neglect of duty.
A BAD EXAMPLE.
SO long as Mr. Balfour remained in his
present Office they might rely upon it that
the same course would be pursued. Mr.
Balfour had done all in his power to
bias the case. and had driven the
opposition TO state how the facts appeared
to them. He reserved his Judgment but he
considered that Mr. Balfour's assertions
were right in the teeth of the facts. From
the fact that the government failed to bring
their reporter, as was their duty, to the
Mitchellstown meeting in way most con
venient to all concerned he could only sup
pose two explanations: first, an intention
to promote disorder, [Pnnellite
cheersl which he did not entertain. Sec
oud. that the authorizes exhibited degree
of stupidity and negligence such as Is rarely
seen The responsibility rested with those
who committed the first error, and it was a
gross danvarotIg error for n body of police